How did you first start playing CoH? What do you love the most?

[Mr_Enigma]

Back in early '04 I had just bought my first gaming computer (first-gen Athlon 64 and an ATI Radeon 9800! Swanky!).  I didn't know much about PC games, but had been reading some gaming mags for a few months to get familiar with stuff.  I bought the computer primarily for Half-Life 2 and Doom 3, but was very pleasantly surprised by a lesser-known FPS that came out at the same time:  Far Cry.  I had never really played online games so I took a chance and bought two MMOs:  EverQuest 2 and City of Heroes.  I played EQ2 for maybe a week before I dropped it for City of Heroes. 

 

I had no idea what I was doing and didn't know any online gaming etiquette, so I just kind of blundered my way through it.  I distinctly remember playing my first character, an invuln/war mace tank and not knowing that I was expected to hold the aggro for the team.  The team kept wiping while I survived and I kept expressing my disbelief that I was still standing.  Fortunately someone on that team sent me a discreet tell that clued me in a little.  I set that character aside until respecs were introduced, where I added taunt to my build.  I'm grateful to that anonymous teammate who pointed me in the right direction rather than yell at me or kick me, lol.

 

And that attitude was commonplace in early CoH, the idea that we were all working together, that helping others was just what one does in Paragon City.  It helped me overcome my initial anxiety and introversion and I was hooked.  And I am so grateful that the same approach has survived more than 21 years later!

 

Huzzah to the best online gaming community!